POLOKWANE – Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has urged residents to assist the police in tracking down the suspect(s) who murdered a toddler.

According to a statement by police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, the toddler’s body was discovered in a black sports bag near a filling station on the N1 south of Polokwane.

“On May 19, at around 07:30, a passer-by alerted police of an abandoned bag along the N1 in the Westenburg policing area. On arrival, police found the toddler’s mutilated body in the bag. The child was wearing a blue tracksuit with white stripes and a pair of black shoes,” he explained.

Mojapelo said a pink baby blanket, a towel and a blue and white sarong were also found.

“Preliminary police investigations revealed the deceased was chopped up with an unknown object before he was put inside the bag. The toddler had a bandage wrapped around his left leg and left arm and was already in a state of decomposition,” he added and said the child could be aged between two and three years.

Hadebe appealed to residents with information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible, to contact the police. “Please assist the investigators in tracking down the heartless perpetrators of this horrendous crime and also in the identification of the deceased as well as locating the parents,” she added.

Mojapelo said those with information can contact Warrant Officer Patrick Pila on 082 759 5001, the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or their nearest police station.